Any tips for corporate climbers?

[unclemick]

Yep.

No. 7 works for me too. Plus - several meetings?/doughnut shop group ins per week with fellow retiree's wherein we sharpen our skills in pontification.

[Spanky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcat I wish. I also wish I was 7 feet tall with a wicked hook.

Wildcat,

You do not have to graduate from Wharton. A coworker says that his friends from college with an MBA from the University of Michigan are doing extremely well financially in Wall Street but not sure mentally because of the stress and long hours. My take is that it is not a bad price to pay since you could ER after only a few years of work.

Spanky

[ER@40]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcat Sounds great but even after I finish grad school I doubt I will ever touch that range.* * I just have a hard time thinking people make that much but I get I asked what it took to get to ER fast.

Try and not lose heart. It took 15 years of grind to get there. And the truth is - I was just a grunt. But I was of service to people who were considered important in their field and made serious money. Many ex-bosses were millionaires already, and still addicted to spending all day making more and that's the important thing.

After all, one can be a PA to a Sales Manager or a CEO, do roughly the same type of work and get vastly different rewards . . . Look at it* another way. Lets say you want to make 100k and you feel you deserve it, but your Boss makes only 90k, its not going to happen IMHO.

[ER@40]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spanky You do not have to graduate from Wharton. A coworker says that his friends from college with an MBA from the University of Michigan are doing extremely well financially in Wall Street but not sure mentally because of the stress and long hours. My take is that it is not a bad price to pay since you could ER after only a few years of work.

Second that. I for one haven't even a masters. Had no knowledge of the markets whatsoever. But at the time, I had killer knowledge of Excel. I could build things for the Traders that their internal IT guys said weren't possible, and that's what they liked.

So you don't necessarily require an ideal background but you need to have something to offer, to bargain with, try and be useful in other ways, and be practical.

You might be surprised to know, that many folks I’ve met along the way especially Traders, have surprisingly limited academic backgrounds. Having the right MBA doesn't automatically make you useful. Its what you are able to contribute that matters.

[MRGALT2U]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ER@40 Second that. I for one haven't even a masters. Had no knowledge of the markets whatsoever. But at the time, I had killer knowledge of Excel. I could build things for the Traders that their internal IT guys said weren't possible, and that's what they liked. So you don't necessarily require an ideal background but you need to have something to offer, to bargain with, try and be useful in other ways, and be practical. You might be surprised to know, that many folks I’ve met along the way especially Traders, have surprisingly limited academic backgrounds. Having the right MBA doesn't automatically make you useful. Its what you are able to contribute that matters.

I have a 2 year degree from a community college and was CEO of
4 different corporations (and officer level in several others). So, it can be done. You need a niche though.

JG

[wildcat]

Quote:

Having the right MBA doesn't automatically make you useful. Its what you are able to contribute that matters

Trust me I know about this one. I get tired of hearing people tell me I will have it made once I finish. They don't know what the hell they are talking about.

Quote:

So you don't necessarily require an ideal background but you need to have something to offer, to bargain with, try and be useful in other ways, and be practical.

Quote:

You need a niche though.

Working on that part

[gratefuled]

Two comments:

-The advice to acquire Excel expertise is spot on. I've seen it time and again: if you know Excel inside and out you'll have more job security, better service reviews, and coworkers who like having you around. I strongly recommend being the best Excel-nik in the office.

-I think the best time to get an MBA is straight out of undergraduate school. This is contrarian, but think about it. You're young and you're in full-time student mode. You're able to enjoy the social side of college. You'll have a couple more years to polish your job-hunting skills. You'll be spared a crappy post-undergrad entry-level position. And you'll look like a whiz kid.

Ed

[wildcat]

Quote:

think the best time to get an MBA is straight out of undergraduate school. This is contrarian, but think about it. You're young and you're in full-time student mode. You're able to enjoy the social side of college. You'll have a couple more years to polish your job-hunting skills. You'll be spared a crappy post-undergrad entry-level position. And you'll look like a whiz kid.

Opionions vary but I went back after 2 years. I am still young and felt I went back before the 'other' parts of life took over. I will post my update when the job search rolls around...should be interesting to see what kinds of jobs I am offered and not offered.

Yeah agree 1000% on Excel and I will be spending a lot of my summer off working on those intangibles.

[laurence]

Personal update: it's been pretty much agreed that I'm going to take over as manager of the department when my boss leaves. I'm kind of excited, more than a little trepidatious, but glad to have avoided the other scenario I alluded to on another thread. The person who would have the best chance other than me just didn't seem motivated enough to be an ideal manager (nice guy though). I had a conversation with him and before I could finish my second sentence he said with great relief, "I think you'd be a great manager, I like that scenario a lot!". So now I guess I'm a corporate climber....

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurence Personal update: it's been pretty much agreed that I'm going to take over as manager of the department when my boss leaves.* So now I guess I'm a corporate climber...

So, Laurence, does this mean that you have to go back and edit your "Stupid #&%!!$% Job!!!" post?

Which Skywalker are you-- Anakin or Luke?

[laurence]

Yeah, well, until I see the money, the post subject still stands! He doesn't retire for a year. They are plenty happy to see me take on more responsibility, including managing the group. They have every confidence in my ability.....raise, uh, oh yeah, we'll get back to you! But if I get a couple years experience being manager and I'm not happy with what they've done for me, I'll be able to write my own check elsewhere.